Pleione bloom in S/H

[empiref]

Approx. 5 weeks after potting my Pleiones in S/H one has bloomed and the other is still growing.

I just love S/H, I even placed all my Hyacinth bulbs into S/H.

[RosieC]

Looking good. I had not thought of trying these in S/H.

[Ray]

I am not a grower of deciduous plants, but someone gave me a Plieone formosana corm to experiment with.

I grew it in S/H culture, and the first year it bloomed and then had beautiful foliage. In order to not water or feed at after if slowed down in the fall, I snapped a lid on the deli-container pot - and promptly forgot about it.

When I remembered it - 7 months later, in May - the space under the lid was loaded with smashed up leaves. I cursed myself for forgetting and spent some time cultivating it with more care.

One problem, however: as time went on, the corms grew as a gnarled mess on the surface of the LECA, not sub-surface as they are supposed to.

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Ray

I am not a grower of deciduous plants, but someone gave me a Plieone formosana corm to experiment with.

I grew it in S/H culture, and the first year it bloomed and then had beautiful foliage. In order to not water or feed at after if slowed down in the fall, I snapped a lid on the deli-container pot - and promptly forgot about it.

When I remembered it - 7 months later, in May - the space under the lid was loaded with smashed up leaves. I cursed myself for forgetting and spent some time cultivating it with more care.

One problem, however: as time went on, the corms grew as a gnarled mess on the surface of the LECA, not sub-surface as they are supposed to.

Ray, I was hoping you'd notice my thread.
After the flowers are gone, should I fertilize and water weekly as usual like any S/H medium that I have?

[kavanaru]

what I would suggest for Pleione in S/H (based on the experience of a friend in Germany):
grow them in S/H like "any other orchid", but when they go dormant, take them out and put them in fridge until next spring, and then start again the whole process... My friend has left some Pleione bulbs in S/H the whole year at the beginning, and reported to have lost many of them within two growing seasons... according to her, they do better since she takes them out and store them in the fridge, wrapped in kitchen paper...

[empiref]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

what I would suggest for Pleione in S/H (based on the experience of a friend in Germany):
grow them in S/H like "any other orchid", but when they go dormant, take them out and put them in fridge until next spring, and then start again the whole process... My friend has left some Pleione bulbs in S/H the whole year at the beginning, and reported to have lost many of them within two growing seasons... according to her, they do better since she takes them out and store them in the fridge, wrapped in kitchen paper...

Thank you Kavanaru,

Since I am new to Pleiones, in your opinion when is the dormant season? does it start in October and end February?

[camille1585]

I had no idea that you could grow bulbs in S/H. Cute little Plieone!

[Ray]

Yes, feed and water normally.

No need to unpot them in the fall. When they start to fade, let them dry out thoroughly, move to a cool, dry location, and wait for spring.